^Female Folk Choir Sofia^

Female Folk Choir Sofia at Badnina 1982 community center is one of the few amateur folk choirs on the territory of the Bulgarian capital Sofia that maintains an entirely a cappella program for three-part choir with songs from all regions of Bulgaria.

✅ On April 18, 2025, the Sofia Choir was invited to the Bulgaria Morning show on Bulgaria on Air TV. In the short conversation, the singer and founder of the choir, Maria Stoeva, tolked about the creation of the choir 16 years ago, as well as about the unique old hand-woven and embroidered costumes, while the conductor talked about the new repertoire being prepared, as well as about the choir's latest tour in the Belgian capital, Brussels. In addition, we sang two songs in the acoustically beautiful and cozy TV studio.

^Creation, Conductors, Repertoire, Composers^

Since its creation in the spring of 2009, the Female Folk Choir Sofia has established itself in the field of a cappella polyphonic singing. Along with songs from the Shopsko and Graovo areas, typical of the large Sofia region, the choir's repertoire also includes songs from Strandzha, Pirin, Dobrudzha, Thrace and the Rhodopes.

The achievements of the amateurs are the result of the hard work and dedication to the art of folk singing of the conductors Ivelina Dimova, Milena Andreeva and currently Ivaylo Hristov. Numerous arrangements of folk songs for three-part a cappella choir have been created for the Female Folk Choir Sofia by Zdravka Radoslavova, Georgi Andreev and Ivaylo Hristov.

^Stage Appearances and Awards^

The concerts and stage appearances of the Female Folk Choir Sofia are innumerable. On festival events the choir has won the following awards:

🏆 The Grand Prix at the Antalya Spring Festival, Turkey, May 1-5, 2024.

Eight gold medals from:

🥇 The Chicken Sings festival in Sofia, Krasno Selo district, November 2013;

🥇 IX IFF Songs and Dances Without Borders in Svilengrad, June 2014;

🥇 XIII National Peter and Paul Festival of Folk Art in Veliko Tarnovo, June 2015;

🥇 V Balkan Folklore Championship Living Water in Hisarya, 2016;

🥇 World Cup of Folklore in Hisarya, 2016;

🥇 III Folklore Festival Songs and Dances from Zlatiyata in the town of Valchedram, October 2016;

🥇 Festival of National Memory and Patriotism in Kotel, June 2016;

🥇 Festival With the Songs of Belchin Yunak through the Centuries in the town of Gurkovo, September 2019.

Five silver medals from:

🥈 International Folklore Competition Pautalia in Kyustendil, July 2012;

🥈 IV National Championship of Folklore Arts Euro Folk in Veliko Tarnovo, April 2013;

🥈 X international Festival Maleshevo Singing and Dancing in the village of Mikrevo, October 2013;

🥈 XXVI International Competition and Folklore, Dance and Music Festival Prague Stars – first performance of the choir abroad.

🥈 XXI Festival of Humor and Joke He who laughs, lives long in the village of Baylovo, April 2025.

Three third places and bronze medals from:

🥉 National Folklore Festival In the Middle of the Square in the village of Arbanassi, 2017;

🥉 V National Examination for Polyphonic Singing, in the village of Korten, Stara Zagora, 2011;

🥉 V National Folklore Festival Shopski Naniz (Shopsko Beads) in the town of Kostinbrod, April 2014.

In May 2017, the Female Folk Choir Sofia sang for the first time at an event organized at the St. Cyril and Methodius National Library on the occasion of the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and Slavic Literature.

In June of the same year, the first solo choir concert was held on the open stage of Borisova Garden and was included in the Summer Cultural Program of the Sofia Municipality, and the concert in September was a joint one with the folklore group Yastra.

During its visit to Prague in 2017, the Choir performed a solo concert at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute on the occasion of the Day of the Awakeners, November 1.

At the celebration marking the 35th anniversary of the Badnina 1982 community center, the Choir was awarded for high creative achievements by the Union of National Community Centers.

On March 8, 2018, the Female Folk Choir Sofia visited the National Assembly and congratulated all ladies with their performances on the occasion of International Women's Day.

In May 2019, the Female Folk Choir Sofia celebrated 10 years since its establishment with an anniversary concert at the Terra Hall in the Mladost district.

In the context of the pandemic, the Choir continued to actively participate in celebrations and anniversaries on the occasion of the Day of Bulgarian Literature, Sofia Day, the Mladost district festival and other occasions.

For its contribution to the development of Bulgarian art and culture, the Female Folk Choir Sofia was awarded by the Minister of Culture, Prof. Velislav Minekov, on the occasion of the Day of the National Awakeners - November 1, 2021.

In April 2025, the Female Folk Choir Sofia visited the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, at the invitation of MEP Andrey Kovachev from the European People's Party group. There, along with meetings and conversations, and a detailed introduction to the history and activities of the European Parliament, the choir gave a short concert at the end of working hours at the main entrance of the building named after Altiero Spinelli. The Bulgarian folk songs performed by the Sofia Choir gathered a large audience and earned prolonged applause under the gentle spring sun. The event was covered by BTA with a short report.

^Ivaylo Hristov – conductor of the Female Folk Choir Sofia^

Ivaylo Hristov is a conductor with a master's degree from the Bulgarian State Conservatory, now the National Academy of Music. He built his musical career in the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra as a trombonist and in a number of chamber ensembles in Sofia, for which he created numerous arrangements of classical works, now played around the world. He is the creator and producer of the children's theater and musical show Ma mere l’Oye on the music of Maurice Ravel based on French fairy tales, which has been performed for years. His Edition Elm, in addition to his own works, publishes Bulgarian works, including first editions of Pantcho Vladigueroff, Milcho Leviev, Milko Kolarov and others.

Taking over the musical direction of the Female Folk Choir Sofia, conductor Ivaylo Hristov devoted himself to hard work to raise the level of the choir and boldly renew its repertoire with new songs - his own a cappella arrangements, along with original songs by established Bulgarian composers. Under his leadership, the choir's stage appearances on festival and concert stages in Bulgaria and abroad became more frequent.

After an initial audition by the conductor, you could sing with us in the Female Folk Choir Sofia. We are waiting for you! 😏

^Upcoming appearances, participations, concerts and tours^

✅ On March 1, 2025, on the occasion of the Amateur Day, in the hall of the Badnina 1982 community center, the Female Folk Choir Sofia performed a short concert program, accompanied by a lovely celebration, in the presence of the members of the board of trustees and our dear guests.

✅ On April 1, 2025, on the occasion of the Day of Humor and Joke, the Female Folk Choir Sofia participated in the XXI Festival of Humor and Joke Who Laughs, Lives Long in the village of Baylovo, and was awarded 🥈 Silver medal.

✅ On April 9, 2025, the Female Folk Choir Sofia visited the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, where, in addition to participating in a seminar and several important meetings, the choir performed a short concert on the steps of the main entrance, named after Altiero Spinelli. The concert was attended by many MEPs and staff of the Parliament, as well as other visitors and our admirers, and the event was covered by BTA with a short report.

👉 On May 10, 2025, Saturday, the Female Folk Choir Sofia will participate in the National Folk Song Competition Spring Rainbow in the village of Kurtovo Konare, Plovdiv Region.

👉 On Sunday, June 8, 2025, the Female Folk Choir Sofia will participate in the XXII Folklore Festival for Songs and Dances Shopska pesen (Shopsko Song) in the village of Lokorsko, Sofia Region.

^Photo archive of a friendly and cheerful choir^

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia accepted the invitation to the Bulgaria Morning program on Bulgaria on Air TV.

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia visited the European Parliamant in Brussels, Belguim, giving a short open-air performance.

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia appropriately celebrated the Day of the Amateur and the wonderful Bulgarian holiday of Baba Marta on March 1, 2025 in the hall of the Badnina 1982 community center in the Mladost district, in the presence of our guests and good friends.

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia is on a seminal holidays in Borovets in February 2025.

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia participated in a celebration on the occasion of Babinden (Grandmother's day) at 90 Secondary School in Lyulin district of Sofia on January 18, 2025.

✅ The Female Folk Choir Sofia participated in a concert of the Badnina 1982 Community Center at the 144 Secondary School in the Mladost district in Sofia on December 7, 2024.

^Thoughts by the singers in the choir and press reviews^

A folk song is a beautiful picture. You enter it as if into a wonderful inner world of yours, which you give to the people around you with immense love!

When a Strandzha song, a song from Pirin, from Shopsko, Dobrudzha, Thrace or the Rhodope Mountains is sung, it is as if some gene wakes up in us and starts going crazy!

After a hard day at work, you don't feel like going to rehearsal, you just drag yourself to the rehearsal room. But then you leave with wings on your shoulders!

Some people are now accumulating money, and others are struggling to survive all these years of transition. But neither one nor the other is happy. We are the happy ones with a rich, melodic and beautiful Bulgarian folk song.

Докато има влюбени в народната песен, тя ще звучи, радва и сгрява сърцата на хората, а ние певиците сме които ще им я дарим!

And while we all sing, our souls are filled with light, kindness and joy. This is our power, which is not given to everyone, but only to those who are married, to those who love our folk song unconditionally.

^Sing with Us!^

If, even if it was a long time ago, you have ever sung in a choir, if you have a voice and often sing folk songs for pleasure, if you are musically literate, but even if you are not, you easily sing and quickly remember new melodies, and if you would like to join a friendly and cheerful group, then do not hesitate to contact our conductor to arrange an audition. This is your first step towards being accepted into the choir.

Once you are initially approved, after a trial period you can earn a titular place and the right to stand among us on stage, dressed in one of our unique folk costumes, which are our concert costumes. Until then, you will have to diligently, with the help of the conductor and the singers, master the songs from our repertoire and find your right place in the ranks of the Female Folk Choir Sofia.

^Supporters and Sponsorship Procedure^

Throughout its long history, the Female Folk Choir Sofia has been supported by many benefactors – citizens and organizations, without whose support the activities of the amateur choir would be unthinkable. Among them are:

💎 Alco Ltd., Sofia, with manager Mr. Kotov;

💎 Bank Employees Union, Sofia, Mr. Vladimir Spasov;

💎 Neon BG, with manager Mr. Georgi Traykov;

💎 Kate Ltd., with manager Mr. Zhivko Zhelev;

💎 Nedelya Confectionery, Mladost district, with manager Mrs. Zoya Vaseva;

💎 Southern Cross - 2001 Ltd., with manager Mr. Petyo Blaskov;

💎 Kayan Pharmacy, Sofia, Mladost district;

💎 GERB Political Party, Sofia, Mladost district;

💎 Coalition for Bulgaria.

We sincerely thank you for these gestures of patriotism!

In the case of a donation in favor of the Female Folk Choir Sofia, made to the Badnina 1982 Community Center on the basis of the transfer Targeted donation for the Female Folk Choir Sofia, the tax relief for individuals is a reduction of up to 5% of the annual tax base according to the Personal Income Tax Act, and for legal entities - up to 10% of the positive financial result, expenses for donations being recognized according to the provisions of the Corporate Income Tax Act.

The Community center's bank account is at DSK Bank, IBAN: BG49 STSA 9300 0000 08 85 45, BIC: STSABGSF.

^Video archive of concert performances over the years^

Here we share some videos that preserve our public performances over the years.

^Contacts^

Ivaylo Hristov, Conductor: +359888972554 ivaylo@horsofia.org www.horsofia.org WhatsApp

Maria Stoeva, Chairwoman of the Choir: +359889994716

Elena Nikolova, Secretary of the Choir: +359885887013

Pavlinka Keremidarova, Secretary of the Badnina 1982 Community Center: +359886394421 badnina@abv.bg www.badnina.com

^Thanks a lot for your interest in the Female Folk Choir Sofia^